Ronni Lewis, sitting in the UA communications office at McKale Center, just finished a workout and had an ice pack draped around her left knee.
The Wildcats are coming off a tough season - a 16-15 record, without an NCAA tournament bid for the first time in four years - but Lewis still smiled from ear to ear, and her enthusiasm was palpable.
"I can't stop telling people how excited I am," said Lewis, a junior libero. "I just think we have a lot to show for ourselves this year. I'm excited, I can't find another word, but I'm thrilled to show what we can do this year."
Helped by incoming freshman star setter Penina Snuka, UA's bounce-back attempt will begin on Saturday with its first practice, and on Aug. 30 with its first match against Morgan State at 1:30 p.m. at McKale Center.
Coach Dave Rubio knows when to temper expectations - he's entering his 22nd season as the UA's head honcho - but he believes this team has a chance to excel.
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"Last year I was thinking if we make it into the NCAA tournament," he said, "we (as a staff) deserve to be coach of the year."
The Wildcats were simply too young, giving siginificant time to as many as five sophomores and two freshmen with zero - count 'em, zero - seniors on the roster. All seven return, including Lewis and outside hitter Madi Kingdon.
"This year," Rubio said, "going into it, I'm thinking the team has a chance to be really, really good. Good enough to make a deep run, but I won't have an idea about that until we start practicing."
Lewis took it a step further.
"I think we are capable of winning it, honestly," she said. "I think what we have on our side is that people aren't going to expect what they see from us. So, we'll be the underdogs that come and take it all."
Here are three things you should know about the Wildcats as they head into the first practice of the season on Saturday.
1. It won't be easy
Even with UA's returning and new talent, an NCAA tournament appearance is no guarantee, especially because the Wildcats compete in the powerhouse Pac-12. Last year, the conference placed six teams in the NCAA tournament - and five in the top 13 of the final AVCA coaches poll, topped by national championship runner-up Oregon at No. 2.
"Playing in this conference is so brutal," Rubio said. "I think that any team that makes it in the conference to the NCAA tournament has a chance to go pretty deep just because of the level of competition in the Pac-12."
To top it off, the Wildcats' non-conference schedule is challenging - including notable matchups against Kansas (Aug. 31), Northwestern (Sept. 12) and Hawaii (Sept. 14), the latter two at the Hawaii tournament in Honolulu.
2. Breakout potential
Of all the freshmen thrown into the fire last season, middle blocker Olivia Magill seems like one who best caught Rubio's eye.
Magill, a All-Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention, led the Wildcats with 104 blocks.
"Olivia Magill is elite," Rubio said. "She showed signs last year where just nobody could touch her. She was dominant, so we're excited about her having a full year in the program and where she is now."
Magill also added 144 kills and had a hitting efficiency of .328, which was second on the UA and 10th-best in the Pac-12.
3. Freshman sensation
Lewis said Rubio has been raving about freshman setter Snuka for a few years. Now, she understands why.
Snuka, a highly-touted player from Gilbert, has already made an impression on her teammates. Snuka played three years for Gilbert High School before starring her senior year at Kahuku High School in Hawaii, where she was ranked the No. 34 senior in the country by PrepVolleyball.com.
"She will run through a wall for the ball," Lewis said. "She will definitely bring some energy and some life onto our team, especially if we're struggling. She can be that spark that we need."
Extra points
• At least two key contributors from last year's team are no longer with the program. Setters Chanel Brown and Lauren Fuller left the team in the spring, UA spokesman Ryan Dunn said. Brown transferred to the UA from Florida before last season. It is unclear if she will transfer elsewhere. Fuller transferred to Virginia.
• The Wildcats also lost outside hitter Emily Bemis, who transferred to Iowa, and former walk-on libero Stevie Stier.
Season opener
• Who: Morgan State at Arizona
• What: Arizona Invitational
• When: 1:30 p.m., Aug. 30
Contact reporter Zack Rosenblatt at zrosenblatt@azstarnet.com or 573-4145. On Twitter @ZackBlatt
